Instagram Worthy: How Social Media Has Reshaped Our Ideas On Attractive Design

When it comes to designing office and living spaces, people are relying on two social media platforms. The highly visual nature of Instagram and Pinterest make them ideal places for finding design inspiration, even making purchasing decisions.

Some 72% of usersreport that they have made fashion, beauty or style-related purchases after seeing the product on Instagram. Pinterest goes even further saying that users come to the platform in a “buying state of mind”. Up to 72% of the platform’s users admit that Pinterest inspires them to shop even if they are not searching for something specific and 90% of them say that Pinterest helps them decide what products to purchase.

“Instagram worthy” home is now a thing and a lot of younger consumers admit that they specifically seek out decor items that would look good on social media. Yet the impact of social media on our perception of “pretty” doesn’t end here.

Social media is changing what people view as pretty

Before social media, what people viewed as being attractive, even acceptable in design was largely driven by major brands who could do the following:

Afford paid advertising on television and in newspapers and magazines.

As a result, pretty and popular went hand in hand. Thanks to social media, it is much easier for smaller designers to create a presence. This in turn is bringing edgier and earthier looks to the forefront. Smaller brands are making an impact by basing fashion design on the interests and lifestyles of the 18 to 24 year old crowd while other brands are still focusing on older consumers. As these small brands continue to trend, the more casual, comfortable, yet bright and assertive looks they hawk will become more and more mainstream. Wearers will also continue to follow suit and share the looks on social media

Social media is helping to educate design consumers

Instagram to some extent, and Pinterest even more so, have done more than provide a place to showcase design ideas and inspire consumers. They also educate them. Pinterest is ultimately a DIY platform. This means content must do more than look nice. Successful brands like Kelly Wearstler also provide advice on remodeling, decorating tips, and tutorials and leverage the “Tried It” function on Pinterest to generate more engagement for their brand.

This is a positive step because fear of failure can definitely impact the likelihood of someone purchasing design related products and services. For most people, redoing a room involves a significant investment of time and money. Not many people can easily withstand a failure. Using these platforms to instruct and educate designers can boost confidence in consumers. When customers feel confident that they can complete a project, or simply that they know what looks good, they are less hesitant to spend money.

Using social media and design to influence non design related purchases

It is pretty unsurprising to see restaurants actively participating on Instagram and Pinterest. After all, what better places to entice customers with beautifully styled plates of food, or decadently over the top displays of gluttonous spreads. Not only that, but restaurants and other food businesses have been using Instagram and Pinterest to connect with restaurant critics, reviewers, food bloggers, and other influencers.

Traditionally, home supplies brands have leveraged Instagram and Pinterest for years to attract and engage users, and appeal to their sense of aesthetics. For instance, Plumeria Bay, a supplier of exquisite down bedding and bed linens uses Pinterest for this. Now, imagine restaurants using these same platforms to entice followers with light fixtures or unique flooring patterns? The term ‘Instagram worthy’ has taken on new meaning. Not only do restaurateurs want to make food that meets this criteria. They are now focused on creating entire spaces that consumers will want to share with their own followers.

While the immediate impact is on the purchasing decisions people make in the moment, there is also exposure. Artists and designers who may not receive exposure elsewhere are getting it in these spaces. When someone sees a gorgeous focus wall in a restaurant or a unique window treatment, two things happen. First, it exposes them to a design idea or concept. Second, it gives them a context for that concept and how they could use it to create a beautiful space in their own home or office, like these curtains at Bocce in Calgary. Consumers can take these design ideas home, and incorporate them into more Instagram worthy designs.

We want our lives and our design to be Insta worthy

Whether we want to admit it or not, the decisions we make are influenced by our desire to curate a certain look and persona on social media. That impacts the way we design our spaces and the clothing we wear. This combined with the open source nature of social platforms has seriously changed what we find to be attractive in fashion, home decor, even art.

I am a writer and lifestyle entrepreneur. After working in the corporate world for over 5 years, I resigned and took to consulting entrepreneurs and companies, including Fortune 500 companies like LinkedIn and Cisco. I have particular interest in how people and businesses ha...